A Call to Action: It’s Time to Reclaim Richmond’s African Burial Ground!

Dear Friends,

The Richmond community, especially Richmond’s Black community, is facing an immediate and historic challenge: Can we rescue the city’s oldest Black cemetery? Or will we miss this fragile and narrow opportunity to finally win respect for the ancestors who have been as disrespected in death as they were in life? Will we miss the potential to increase the body of scientific and cultural knowledge of colonial Richmond? Will we, in fact, once again negotiate away the Black community’s right to self-determination?

Virginia Commonwealth University has purchased the parking lot at 15th and East Broad streets under which lies the more-than-200-year-old “Burial Ground for Negroes.” This is the oldest Black cemetery in Richmond and one of the oldest in the entire country. It is also the site of the execution, on Oct. 10, 1800, of the great slave rebellion leader Gabriel. VCU has temporarily closed the parking lot, saying it intends to “upgrade” it.

This is the opportunity for the community to finally reclaim this sacred ground – if we act now.

CONTACT THE RELEVANT PUBLIC OFFICIALS

IMMEDIATELY contact the public officials listed below and demand:

1. No reopening of the parking lot.
2. No “upgrading” of the parking lot.
3. No division of the site into a parking lot and a small memorial area.
4. Reclaim the entire site and - in consultation with Richmond’s Black community - devise a plan to properly memorialize the Burial Ground.

Please immediately contact:

Eugene P. Trani Office of the President Virginia Commonwealth University
910 W. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23284
Phone: (804) 828-1200
Email: etrani@vcu.edu

Delores McQuinn Vice President Richmond City Council Chair, Slave Trail Commission of Richmond City Council Office
Phone: (804) 646-5429;
Office Fax: (804) 646-5468
E-mail: Delores.McQuinn@Richmondgov.com

Viola O. Baskerville Secretary of Administration (heads the governor’s committee that in July will dedicate a Civil Rights monument in Capital Square)
Patrick Henry Building
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804.786.1201; Fax: 804.371.0038

Gov. Tim Kaine (VCU is a state institution. That means the governor is now the highest official involved in this issue.) Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor 1111 East Broad St. Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 786-2211; Fax: (804) 371-6351

And please send the Defenders copies of e-mails, faxes or written messages to the above officials. This is very important. VCU is claiming there is little or no community interest on this issue.

Defenders’ Sacred Ground Project
PO Box 23202,
Richmond, VA 23223
Ph: (804) 644-5834
Email: DefendersFJE@hotmail.org;
Website: DEFENDERS for Freedom, Justice & Equality

COME TO THE SITE

Visit the Burial Ground. Bring flowers and other mementos to leave in honor of the ancestors. Conduct libation ceremonies. Pray. Sing. Meditate. Take a stand. Make it plain and visible that the community cares what happened here so long ago.

HOLD A VIGIL

As often as we have been able, supporters of the Burial Ground have been gathering each day at noon at the Gabriel Marker on Broad Street. We stand holding our homemade signs: “Save Richmond’s African Burial Ground!” “Build a memorial, not a parking lot!” “Defend Richmond’s Black History.” “If you pave it, we won’t park!” Be creative – make your own signs. You’ll be surprised at how much support you’ll receive from passing motorists and pedestrians.

RAISE YOUR VOICE

2008 is an election year. There are now seven people running to become Richmond’s next mayor – including Rev. Dwight Jones and William Pantele. And Councilwoman McQuinn is up for re-election. We can make the Burial Ground an issue – in the campaigns for mayor, City Council, School Board, Congress – even the presidency, now that Virginia has achieved “swing-state” status. Where will Barack Obama stand on this issue?

And remember, since VCU has purchased the Burial Ground site, this is now a state matter. That means that we can – and should – demand that Gov. Tim Kaine take a stand. The timing is especially good, since the governor and First Lady Ann Holton plan to unveil the state’s first Civil Rights Memorial on Capital Square on July 21. How much more appropriate and historic that ceremony will be if Gov. Kaine has first ordered the permanent closing of the offending parking lot? And how totally empty and hypocritical would such a ceremony be if he does not? And in that case, wouldn’t it be much more appropriate to hold a protest demonstration at Capital Square - if such a protest were led by the Black community? And, since Gov. Kaine is a national co-chair of the Obama campaign, and is being mentioned as a possible running mate, wouldn’t such a protest receive national attention? Wouldn’t it, Gov. Kaine?

As luck would have it, there will be several opportunities this month to raise the issue of the Burial Ground. Please try and attend at least some of these events. Raise your voice. Don’t assume someone else is do it, or can do it. We must become our own leaders.

ATTEND THESE EVENTS & ASK THIS QUESTION: “Do you support the permanent closing of the parking lot and – in consultation with the Black community - properly memorializing the site of the ‘Burial Ground for Negroes?”

• Tues., June 17, 7 p.m. - Regular monthly meeting of the Richmond Crusade for Voters – scheduled speakers include Richmond Slave Trail Commission Chair Delores McQuinn and Sheriff C.T. Woody. 2220 Chamberlayne Ave.

• Thurs., June 19 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Councilwoman McQuinn to hold East End 7th District Meeting - The meeting will include: East End 7th District Community Concerns; District Crime Statistics - Powhatan Hill Recreation Center, 5051 North Hampton St. For more information, please contact Sam Patterson, at 804.646.3012, or pattersa@ci.richmond.va.us

• Thurs., June 19 – 6 – 8 p.m. - Mayoral Candidates Forum – Plant Zero, 7 E. 3rd St., just south of the Manchester Bridge. Sponsored by the Richmond Crusade for Voters and the Coalition for a Greater Richmond. This will be one of the best opportunities to question all the candidates about their position on the Burial Ground.

• Fri., June 20, 4 p.m. - JUNETEENTH, A FREEDOM CELEBRATION - Social Change, Hip-Hop & Election 2008- featuring dead prez, Fashions, Discussion, African Dance & Music, Vendors, Food - Greater Richmond Convention Center.

• Sat., June 21 - JUNETEENTH, A FREEDOM CELEBRATION “In Our Ancestor’s Footsteps” featuring Torch Lit Light Walk Along Trail of Enslaved Africans - A Healing Ceremony will take place at the site of The Burial Ground for Negroes along the Trail of Enslaved Africans. Elegba Folklore Society - Elegba Folklore Society, Inc - Home Page - 804.644.3900.

• Wed., July 2, 8 p.m. - [Good place to leaflet] - Legendary poet-musician Gil Scott-Heron will appear with his band at Toad’s Place, 140 Virginia St. Opening the show will be jazz-funk group, Plunky & Oneness. General admission will be $25. Doors open at 7:00PM. For further information contact: Plunky 804-355-3586.

• Sun., July 20 - Civil Rights Memorial Symposium at the Library of Virginia

• Mon., July 21 - Civil Rights Memorial Unveiling and Dedication on Capital Square.

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Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project
Ana Edwards, Chair
c/o Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality
PO Box 23202
Richmond, VA 23223 USA

Phone (804) 644-5834
Email: DefendersFJE@hotmail.com
Website: DEFENDERS for Freedom, Justice & Equality